Her husband was beating her, she ran away from him with 36 cents in her pocket, and then her career ‘exploded’ …
The music world said goodbye to two years ago from a true legend, Tine Turnerwhich passed away on May 24, 2023 at the age of 83. Her life, marked by incredible ups and painful falls, is inspiration for millions. From modest beginnings to the status of a global superstar, the Rock ‘N’ Roll Queen Tina Turner left an indelible mark on her strength, talent and incredible resistance. Her story is not just a story about musical success, but even survival, courage and final triumph over adversity.
Born as Anna Mae Bullock November 26, 1939 in Nutbush, Tennessee, Tina grew up in a poor family of farmers. Parents, Floyd and Zelma Bullock, divorced, leaving Anna Mae and her sister to raise their grandmother. After Grandma’s death in the early 1950s, she moved to St. Louis to his mother. Singing in the church choir, Anna Mae showed her musical talent early. In St. Louis quickly died in the R&B scene, and the key moment was in 1956 at the Manhattan Club. That’s where she met Ike Turner, pioneer Rock ‘n’ Roll, who performed with her band Kings of Rhythm. She soon began to perform with the group as « Little Ann » and quickly became the main attraction of their performances. In 1960, when the second singer did not appear on the recording, Anna Mae sang the main vocal section for the song « A Fool in Love ». They sent a radio station in New York, which was published under the name Ike & Tina Turner. Tina later revealed that Ike patented her name as a form of control.
Despite the serious abuse with Ike, she was married for 16 years and finally filed a divorce request in 1976.
The song « A Fool in Love » achieved tremendous success on the R&B rates and soon moved to the pop ladder. The group, known as Ike & Tina Turner Revue, has become famous for its outlets. Hits such as « It’s Gonna Work Out Fine » and « Poor Fool » followed. They got married in Mexico in 1962.
Their glory reached the new heights in 1966 by recording the album « River Deep – Mountain High » with producer Phil Spector. Although the title song was not successful in the US, it became a big hit in England. In 1969, they were the Rolling Stones pre -concepts, gaining even more fans. Their popularity has grown again in 1971 with the album « Workin ‘Together » and the processing of the song « Pay Mary » by the Creedence Clearwater Revival group, which reached the Top 5 on the US ladder and brought them the first Grammy. « Pay Mary » became the cornerstone of their performances, known for Tina’s vocal performance and the energetic dance of accompanying vocals, Ikettes. In 1973, the hit « Nutbush City Limits », a song of autobiographical elements written by Tina, followed.
Popularity increased Ikea and Tina in 1971 with the album ‘Workin’ Together ‘and the processing of the song’ Pay Mary ‘by the Creenadence Clearwater Revival, which brought them the first Grammy |
Two years later, in 1975, Tina Turner also performed in Split, on the flu. It was, as the Croatian media wrote, an unprecedented spectacle. There were even two concerts in the same day, and the hall was crowded. Tina, then a 36-year-old at the height of her career with Ike, gave the audience an unforgettable experience. And how much influence she had on one fan, is the fact that Ljuba Kekez, after listening to her on the flu, decided to call her a daughter.
– I was pregnant at the concert, and I wanted to see her so much. There was a world that I couldn’t describe it to you! Then my husband and a friend lifted me on the fence. You can imagine what it looked like – Ljuba told us two years ago.
Once again, Tina was in Croatia, in 1990, when she performed in Velika Gorica. At that time, her pre -band was Boris Novkovic with a night guard with the then band.
– In my career, it was the largest number of people I played. There were also a great responsibility and great honor I received with the very invitation to be part of that concert, where I knew that I was just a fraction of her performance in Croatia – Novkovic told Jutarnji List a few years ago and revealed what he met with a musical giant: “She arrived at the stadium and left her sedan into the space to the dressing room. We changed a couple of turkey words, she wished me happiness in my further career, and I told her how much she meant to me in my musical growing up as a performer who left a mark on my perception of music. «
Despite his professional success, Tina’s marriage to Ike was hell. Tina later revealed that Ike had been physically and mentally abused for years. The violence was everyday, even out of the stage, and so during the stay in Split. Ike, described as jealous of Tina’s charisma and success, often beat her.
« My relationship with Ike was doomed to the ruin of the day he realized that I would be his source of profit, » Tina wrote in her autobiography. He needed to control her, economically and psychologically, so that he could never leave him.
In 1976, after an altercation in Dallas, where Tina opposed him, she finally left him. She escaped with 36 cents and a fuel credit card. The divorce was finalized two years later, and Tina cited Ike’s infidelity, abuse of drugs and alcohol and abuse as reasons. After the divorce, Tina’s solo career started slowly. To feed the children, she received vouchers for food and cleaned houses, but did not give up on the performance. It all turned in 1983. With the processing of Ala Green’s song « Let’s Stay Together ». The following year, she exploded on stage with the album « Private Dancer ». The album was achieved by a huge critical and commercial success, with more than 20 million copies sold and won four Grammy. The megahit « What’s Love Got to Do With IT » reached the first place in the American pop charts and won the Grammy for the plate of the year. Both the songs « Private Dancer » and « Better Be Good to Me » also entered the top 10. Tina, then a woman in her mid -forties, became known for her unique energy, a rough voice, recognizable short skirts that highlighted her famous legs and voluminous hairstyles.
But Tina was not just limited to music, so in 1985 she starred with Mela Gibson in the movie « Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome », for which she made the hit « We Don’t Need Another Hero ». A year later, she published the autobiography « I, Tina », which was adapted to the movie « What’s Love Got to Do With IT » (1993) with Angela Bassett in the lead role.
Tina Turner was a mother of four. Her first son, Raymond Craig, was born in 1958. From a relationship with saxophonist Raymond Hill. Ike Turner later adopted him. Tina also adopted two Ike’s sons from the previous relationship, Ikea Jr. and Michael. With Ike, she had one biological son, Ronnie, born in 1960. She admitted in autobiography that the children heard their endless quarrels and that Ike’s behavior marked them all.
She starred in 1985. With Mela Gibson in ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome’, for which she made the hit ‘We Don’t Need Another Hero’ |
She later had a somewhat alienated relationship with part of the children, although she was always there for them. Life also brought her difficult family tragedies. Her oldest son Craig passed away in 2018 at the age of 59, committing suicide. Tina called his ashes scattering his « saddest moment as a mother. » In 2022, her son Ronnie passed away from colon cancer at the age of 62. « Ronnie, you left the world too soon. I close my eyes in the sadness and think of you, my beloved son, » Tad wrote Tina. After a turbulent marriage to Ike, Tina found happiness with German music director Erwin Bach. They met in 1985 and got married in 2013 after 27 years of relationship. They lived in Küsnacht, near Zurich, Switzerland. In 2013, Tina gained Swiss citizenship, renounced American.
– I’m very happy in Switzerland and I feel at home here. I can’t imagine a better place to live, ”she said.
In her later years, Tina struggled with serious health problems. Three months after her wedding with Bach 2013, she experienced a stroke. Then in 2016, she was diagnosed with bowel cancer. A year later, she had a kidney transplant, and Donor was her husband Erwin. Despite the pension after the farewell tour « Tina! 50th Anniversary Tour » 2008 – 2009, she continued to receive awards. In 2021 she was admitted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo performer (she was first received with Ike in 1991). Tina Turner passed away peacefully on May 24, 2023 at her home in Switzerland after a long illness. Her spokesman Bernard Doherty stated: « With her the world loses a musical legend and a role model. » Tina Turner left an indelible mark on music and popular culture. It is considered one of the greatest performers of all time.
During the last tour of 2009. Rock grandmother’s energy was not missing at the age of 71 |
She won eight Grammy (12 in total, including those for Lifetime Achievement and Grammy Hall of Fame Awards). She will be remembered as the Queen of Rock ‘N’ Rolla, Rock Grandma, but also as a symbol of survival and resistance. Her story of escape from abuse and in the beginning of middle age inspired millions. She influenced the generations of artists, from Mick Jagger, who admitted that he had taken over some stage movements from her to Beyoncé. As Angela Bassett, who embodied her on film, said, « Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear of what a beautiful future should look like to love, compassion and freedom. »
Her life path, translated into autobiography, film and Brodvej musical « Tina: The Tina Turner Musical », testifies to the power of the human spirit. Tina herself said to the musical: « This musical is not about my glory. It is a trip I went through to get there. Every night I want the audience from the theater to bring a message that you can turn the poison into a cure. »
